Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Worry paralyzes, righteous action energizes and motivates us.

Worry, many times, is centered around circumstances we cannot control, or future happenings which have not yet happened. Conversely, pursuit is active and focused. In this case, the pursuit is also noble and right — it is the pursuit of God. Pursuing God in a personal relationship, not just knowing facts about him, but being intimate with him. Being a friend of God.

Worry or seeking, stress or freedom with a right focus, our own perspective and comparison games with the world or God’s perspective. This is the dilemma, this is the challenge.

The things we worry about, God has in spades. The things that create stress for us, we can give to God. He wants to offload our burdens and free us up to truly live a purposeful and adventurous life under his direction.

Lord, I cast worry by the wayside. I dismiss stress and despair over things I cannot control. I lay it all down at your feet. I trust you to watch over me and provide for me. Teach me to pursue you first every day. Then the worries and fears will go away.